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This is a god-awful piece of Afghan real estate to have fought over, but precious to leave behind.

Brown and jagged, small mountains rise like scarred knuckles from the bedrock.

Afghan National Army soldiers scan the heat ripples on the horizon, to the edge of the Rigestan Desert, to the Arghandab river and Pashmul further still.

Canadian troops paid for and owned all this.

They treated it like it was Calgary, Toronto or Ottawa.

And they died to take it from an enemy who controlled much of it back in 2006 -- the Taliban, at that time, moving and operating with ease among local communities.

So arguably, more than any other place in Afghanistan, this is Canadian soil.

On Tuesday, the Canadians transferred battle authority for this base and Panjwa'i District, from our troops to the American's 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry.

Which means we are now a short distance away from ending Canada's combat role here, though Brig.-Gen Dean Milner, commander of Task Force Kandahar, told me: "While we're very close, we're not there yet."

For now, Milner will still command U.S. troops across southern Afghanistan, and he won't hand over the entire battle space to a U.S. Stryker brigade for a few days.

But more than any other hand-over ceremony that has happened here -- or will in the future -- the parade and document signing at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ma'sum Ghar was a powerful symbol of Canada's march back home.

This is the same ground where our soldiers died during the battle of Pashmul, which most know as Operation Medusa.

That battlefield stretches out from the fortified walls, into countryside that's much less dangerous for their sacrifice.

Dozens of soldiers who operated out of this base died fighting for Canadian duty and Afghanistan's future.

Memorial stones representing their sacrifice have recently been buried in the dusty ground of Ma'sum Ghar, to always remain here.

Most of their Canadian brothers and sisters have now moved from the battle space, though Milner says some are still in harm's way as they remain to help the Americans.

Van Doo battle group commander Lt.-Col Michel-Henry St.-Louis says since the difficult early days of Canadian operations here, Ma'sum Ghar has served as the centre point of command and control for our efforts in southern Afghanistan.

"It's huge," he said of its significance to the Canadian contribution.

"This FOB has been at the centre of (Canadian) operations outside the wire."

He told his men: "A page in Canadian history turns today."

The Van Doo's colors were then replaced with the American regimental flag.

Afghan National Army Brig.-Gen. Ahmad Habibi, who rose up the ranks as he fought beside the Canadians for this corner of his country, said our forces leave this battlefield with the enemy in tatters.

"They are on their knees and very weak," he assured.

"Our Canadian friends have played a major role in that."

Since they arrived, 1 Royal 22e Regiment battle group has been on 3,200 patrols, 130 operations and have uncovered almost 300 weapons caches.

They have also taken part in 950 shuras - or local meetings.

As Canadian and American forces stood on parade in the hot sun Tuesday -- Habibi's men watching their backs from the walls -- a minute of silence was marked for our fallen.

But when St.-Louis was asked whether the Canadians are leaving behind holy ground -- for the cost we paid -- he hesitated for a moment.

Every patch of soil in Afghanistan where a Canadian fell in battle is as precious, he answered.

"Ma'sum Ghar is symbolic," he continued.

"It was a witness to a lot of that sacrifice."

And after the words and the parade, the Canadians left -- the remaining Van Doos catching transport out later in the day.

Leaving behind a difficult and hard place that should always be remembered -- if only in the spirit we looked after it -- as Canadian soil.